The fourth-generation Apple TV is slightly taller and the remote has been redesigned. The software is different, too, and there are many new capabilities. It's cool, but it still feels like a work in progress. less

The fourth-generation Apple TV is slightly taller and the remote has been redesigned. The software is different, too, and there are many new capabilities. It's cool, but it still feels like a work in ... more

Photo: Apple

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The overall look of the software has been overhauled, with lots of 3D effects and a lighter, cleaner look.

The overall look of the software has been overhauled, with lots of 3D effects and a lighter, cleaner look.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The Apple TV comes in a stark black box.

The Apple TV comes in a stark black box.

Photo: Dwight Silverman / Houston Chronicle

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Inside: The Apple TV "puck" and the new Siri Remote.

Inside: The Apple TV "puck" and the new Siri Remote.

Photo: Dwight Silverman / Houston Chronicle

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The redesigned remote features a smoothly responsive touchpad up top, as well as a microphone button to invoke Siri.

The redesigned remote features a smoothly responsive touchpad up top, as well as a microphone button to invoke Siri.

Photo: Dwight Silverman / Houston Chronicle

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The overall look may be different, but you still get the Apple/iOS signature wall o' icons.

The overall look may be different, but you still get the Apple/iOS signature wall o' icons.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The Apple TV now comes with an app store, and developers can create applications. Does this mean we'll finally get an Amazon Video app? (Don't hold your breath.)

The Apple TV now comes with an app store, and developers can create applications. Does this mean we'll finally get an Amazon Video app? (Don't hold your breath.)

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The expected apps are here - HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, etc. There are also some surprises. But finding hidden gems isn't easy.

The expected apps are here - HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, etc. There are also some surprises. But finding hidden gems isn't easy.

There also are categories in the App Store, and by categories, plural, I mean only two. For now. [Update: Finding things in the App Store is now MUCH easier, with better organization. Hidden gems still are hidden, though.] less

There also are categories in the App Store, and by categories, plural, I mean only two. For now. [Update: Finding things in the App Store is now MUCH easier, with better organization. Hidden gems still are ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You may be surprised to find some of the apps you purchased on your iPhone and iPad showing up in the Purchased tab. Yes, there are apparently some universal apps that work across Apple's various platforms. less

You may be surprised to find some of the apps you purchased on your iPhone and iPad showing up in the Purchased tab. Yes, there are apparently some universal apps that work across Apple's various ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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There's even a version of Ookla's Speedtest.net app for the Apple TV. You can check your connect speed right from your television.

There's even a version of Ookla's Speedtest.net app for the Apple TV. You can check your connect speed right from your television.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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This film noir-style adventure game, Calvino Noir, is available on the Apple TV as well as on iOS devices.

This film noir-style adventure game, Calvino Noir, is available on the Apple TV as well as on iOS devices.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The dark atmospherics and architecture of Calvino Noir look great on a big TV screen.

The dark atmospherics and architecture of Calvino Noir look great on a big TV screen.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The redesigned movie screens give you a lot more information about films you can rent or buy.

The redesigned movie screens give you a lot more information about films you can rent or buy.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can ask Siri who is in a movie you're watching or considering watching, and she'll tell you in many cases.

You can ask Siri who is in a movie you're watching or considering watching, and she'll tell you in many cases.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The redesign particularly helps with these multiple movie packages.

The redesign particularly helps with these multiple movie packages.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can ask Siri for specific types of content such as crime dramas from the BBC.

You can ask Siri for specific types of content such as crime dramas from the BBC.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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But she can't do everything. While she'll you about crime dramas by the BBC, she can't answer a request for "British crime dramas". Weird.

But she can't do everything. While she'll you about crime dramas by the BBC, she can't answer a request for "British crime dramas". Weird.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Apple Music is here, and it's very similar to what you get on the iPhone or iPad with iOS 9.

Apple Music is here, and it's very similar to what you get on the iPhone or iPad with iOS 9.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can access your own music.

You can access your own music.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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And all the radio stations and curated playlists from Apple Music are here.

And all the radio stations and curated playlists from Apple Music are here.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The Photos app lets you look at your photos. It would be nice if you could edit them on your Apple TV.

The Photos app lets you look at your photos. It would be nice if you could edit them on your Apple TV.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can pair a set of headphones with Bluetooth, but you can't pair a keyboard. Bummer. [Update: You can now pair Apple Bluetooth keyboards.]

You can pair a set of headphones with Bluetooth, but you can't pair a keyboard. Bummer. [Update: You can now pair Apple Bluetooth keyboards.]

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can also set the remote to control your TV and volume. I've got it working with a soundbar on my home entertainment system, too.

You can also set the remote to control your TV and volume. I've got it working with a soundbar on my home entertainment system, too.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Apple's decision to have a horizontal onscreen keyboard likely comes because of the smooth swiping feature of the remote's touchpad, but it's still incredibly annoying.

Apple's decision to have a horizontal onscreen keyboard likely comes because of the smooth swiping feature of the remote's touchpad, but it's still incredibly annoying.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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You can't use voice input to search for things, so if Siri search doesn't work, you're stuck with the horizontal keyboard. It's way too easy to overshoot letters, and while you can adjust the sensitivity, the next step down makes it too sluggish. [Update: Siri voice search is much improved.] less

You can't use voice input to search for things, so if Siri search doesn't work, you're stuck with the horizontal keyboard. It's way too easy to overshoot letters, and while you can adjust the sensitivity, the ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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There's a beautiful, high-res screen saver called Aerial that will make you want to leave your TV on all the time.

There's a beautiful, high-res screen saver called Aerial that will make you want to leave your TV on all the time.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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The remote can be set up to control your TV's power, so putting the Apple TV to sleep also shuts down your television (if it supported CEC for controlling one HDMI-based device from another).

The remote can be set up to control your TV's power, so putting the Apple TV to sleep also shuts down your television (if it supported CEC for controlling one HDMI-based device from another).

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Taking a second look at the 4th-generation Apple TV

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When I reviewed the fourth-generation Apple TV after its release late last year, I wrote that it was “like a gorgeous cake that didn’t cook long enough”. It was sweet and pretty but clearly needed more baking time. It felt like a beta product, unfinished and with many rough edges.

Many of the problems had to do with the tvOS software, the new operating system that had been developed from the same foundation that powers iPhones and iPads. Others had to do with design decisions that were ill-advised. And some were hardware-based, such as no 4K video support.

Since then, Apple has released a series of updates to the product that have addressed many of these issues. The latest, tvOS 9.2, made all kinds of useful changes. I’ve been using the Apple TV as my primary streaming box, and now it’s time for a second look. Here’s the status of my primary software-based complaints.

Lack of Bluetooth keyboard support – FIXED

One of my biggest gripes about the new Apple TV was replacing the standard grid keyboard with a single, horizontal row of letters. Swiping back and forth to enter text is maddening. Apple compounded this sin by removing the ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with the new Apple TV, a feature that had been available in the previous generation.

But a recent tvOS update fixed this. Now, you can pair an Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the device and use it as needed. (I went to fish mine out of a drawer and discovered that the batteries had leaked, fusing shut the compartment that held them. Fortunately, my lovely wife had one she wasn’t using that she donated to the cause. Thanks, dear!)

The one downside: Only Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboards are supported.

Remote app doesn’t work – FIXED

Not only was Bluetooth keyboard pairing gone, but the Apple TV also wouldn’t work with the Remote app for iOS – again, something it did with the previous model. That meant you couldn’t use your iPhone or iPad keyboard instead of the horizontal onscreen keyboard.

But an updated app fixed the issue, and Remote now works with the older version.

Limited Siri voice search – BETTER

To add insult to input injury, Apple put Siri voice search into its new streaming box but in a very limited manner. Initially it only worked in a handful of apps, but could not be used for searching important areas, such as the App Store. And you couldn’t use it to dictate text in search boxes, leaving you at the mercy of the awful horizontal keyboard.

The latest update to tvOS came to the rescue, bringing Siri search to more apps, including the App Store. And you can now use it for dictation in text fields – including for logins and passwords.

And just this weekend, Apple turned on a “Live Tune-in” feature that, while limited to just a few apps for now – ESPN, Watch CBS and Disney XD – makes navigating to live content easier. For example, you can now say “Watch ESPN live” and you’ll get taken directly to that app’s live stream. Now it’s up to other app developers to add support for this feature.

App store limitations – SOMEWHAT BETTER

At first, the App Store lacked organization, making it hard to find apps. Since its launch, Apple has been adding more and more categories and refining how apps are promoted and displayed. Being able to search by voice is also a big help.

But I still find it difficult to browse through the deep catalog of apps. Featured apps are front and center, but getting to hidden gems remains difficult.

Semi-related: The latest update provided the ability to group installed apps in folders, which makes organizing a cluttered home screen easier.

These updates have finally brought some polish to the Apple TV. It still lags behind the latest offerings from Amazon’s Fire TV line or Roku’s streaming boxes in some ways – both support 4K streaming, for example, while the Apple TV does not – it’s now much more competitive. It’s now solidly my favorite cord-cutting tool.

This wasn’t a big deal for me, but many people have complained about the design of the Siri Remote, which increases the number of buttons and adds a slick touchpad for navigation. Reviewers and users complained that its touchpad at the top was balanced by a non-functional space of about the same size beneath the buttons. It’s very easy to pick up the remote and start swiping at the non-functional end.

In addition, the touchpad is quite sensitive (it can be adjusted somewhat in the settings) and just picking up the remote sometimes caused a streaming show or movie to start advancing or reversing.

The tvOS 9.2 update fixed the latter by requiring that you hit the pause button before you can swipe to move back and forth in the content. But there’s no software fix that will get around the design of the remote.

However, there is something Apple TV owners can do. Just as there are cases you can buy for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, you can now choose from a growing selection of cases for the Siri Remote. This market was born from that fact that the remote’s surface is glass, and can break when dropped. But the cases also provide more differentiation between the touchpad and the non-functional base.

I chose an Elago IntelliCase for the Siri Remote, for example. Its soft silicone material provides great protection. The touchpad at the top is open, but the flat area below the buttons is completely covered in silicone, providing a tactile clue about which end is up. It’s even got magnets on the back that let you attach it to a metal surface, which can make the remote easy to find. And if you play games on your Apple TV, the included lanyard can keep you from hurling the remote across the room in your exuberance.